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For the second year, the American Farm Bureau is offering a one-day conference to help entrepreneurs tap into the billions of dollars venture capital fund managers are looking to put into agriculture and food businesses. The 2018 Farm Bureau Agriculture Investment Summit, hosted in conjunction with the organization’s Annual Convention, is slated for Jan. 6 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Geared toward entrepreneurs, investors and Farm Bureau staff who want to support entrepreneurs in their states, the conference will address pitching to investors and working with them in the early stages, attracting later stage private equity investors, and dealing with legal issues.

“As a start-up, there is a cost to going out and meeting people and raising capital. One of the best things about this conference is the American Farm Bureau is bringing together some of the top ag tech investors in the country. Having access to those resources in one place, at one event, is an outstanding opportunity,” said Casey Niemann, founder of AgriSync, an app that allows advisors to reach their farmer-customers with mobile-first, video-first support on any connected device. Niemann attended the 2017 conference.

Attendees will also hear about both sides of the venture capital coin; entrepreneurs will share their stories of taking on investors, while investors will explain exactly what they’re looking for.

“It was very helpful to look at investment capital from the other side of the table. As a start-up, you’re so focused on your business and your capital needs. It’s really valuable to look at the risk and the strategy of the investor, meaning what do they need in terms of their portfolio to make a return for their investors,” Niemann said.

In addition, the conference will give the best entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to investors during rapid-fire pitch sessions.